Fun Facts About Iowa City - Coralville

In 2008, Iowa City became the world’s third United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) City of Literature, following Edinburgh, Scotland and Melbourne, Australia
Stone for the Old Capitol was quarried 10 miles north of Iowa City and floated down the river on barges
The University of Iowa became the first public university to admit men and women on an equal basis
Fans paid $3 per ticket to see the dedication game October 19, 1929 against Illinois, held in the newly completed Kinnick Stadium
Coralville’s sculpture walk in the Iowa River Landing features 11 sculptures, all created by Iowa artists
The city sealed a full size time capsule for its 100th birthday in 2013, not to be opened again for another 100 years
North Liberty Community Library has a collection of 375+ cake pans it lends out in addition to books
33.6% of the area’s population has completed a bachelors degree; 27.8% have completed a masters degree
Johnson County makes up 614 square miles
Over 9,000 people walk through the pedestrian mall daily
Notable University of Iowa Alumni include:
- George Gallup, founder of the Gallup Poll, BA, 1923
- Tennessee Williams, author of “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” BA, 1938
- Gene Wilder, Comedic film and television actor whose credits include “Silver Streak,” “Young Frankenstein,” and “Stir Crazy” BA, 1955, Communication and Theatre Arts
- James Van Allen, world-famous physicist and discoverer of two radiation belts (the Van Allen Belts) that surround the earth, Emeritus Carver Professor of Physics at the University of Iowa. MS, 1936; PhD, 1939, Physics
- Sarai Sherman, a twentieth century modernist painter whose work is in major national and international collections including MoMA, the Whitney Museum of American Art; and the Hirshhorn Museum
- John Irving, novelist who wrote The World According to Garp, A Prayer for Owen Meany, and several others, MFA, 1967, English
- Tom Brokaw, Mark Mattson and Ashton Kutcher also attended the University of Iowa
In 1923, Emma J. Harvat became mayor; she was the first woman to be elected as leader of a U.S. city with a population of over 10,000. Her election made history, and was covered in the news worldwide
Including the University Iowa student population, the median age is 24.8 years

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